Site of GFP’s proposed SMR unveiled at Chalk River Laboratories

CHALK RIVER, ONT. — Global First Power (GFP) has selected a location at the Chalk River Laboratories for its proposed Micro-Modular Reactor (MMR) project, marking the next phase of the clean energy demonstration project.

The announcement was made recently by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) and GFP.

GFP is proposing to construct and operate a 15-megawatt thermal MMR plant at the Chalk River campus that would serve as a model for future small modular reactor (SMR) deployments to support remote and industrial applications. The demonstration reactor technology, developed by Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation, is designed to provide a viable clean energy solution to displace fossil fuel use and support Canada’s climate change targets, states a release.

The energy output of the MMR makes it well suited for application in off-grid remote communities and industrial sites.

The site of the proposed MMR demonstration reactor is currently a staff parking lot that will be repurposed to accommodate the new facility. By selecting this location, GFP will have access to campus utilities and to CNL’s many technical and operational support services and the nearby site also has the potential to benefit CNL once the reactor is operational.

GFP’s proposal is also subject to regulatory processes and requirements, which are independent of CNL’s review and evaluation process. GFP has submitted an application for a Licence to Prepare Site to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and an environmental assessment for the project is underway.

“Once constructed, this proposed reactor can demonstrate the economics, safety and performance of a new and exciting SMR technology, giving the public confidence in this next-generation nuclear solution,” said CNL president and CEO Joe McBrearty in a statement. “Overall, I believe that this location could go down in history as one of many at the Chalk River Laboratories where first-of-a-kind nuclear technologies were brought to life.”